Draft and pressure indicator



Aug. 17,, 1937- A. F. sPiTzsLAss m- AL 2,090,160

DRAFT AND PRESSURE INDICATOR Filed-Feb. 7, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I5 10 05' lllllllllllllllllll LIN'PASS .3 .1 0* .1 .3 IIIII%HHHHI lllllllll llllll nuluu? HllllIHHHl umcm Aug. 17, 1937. v A. F. sPrrzeLAss AL 2,090,160

DRAFT AND PRESSURE INDICATOR Filed Feb. '7, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 15 latent.

Patented Aug. 17,. 1937 UNITED STATES DRAFT AND PRESSURE INDICATOR Albert r. Britain: and Goon-{e w. Grisdale, Chicago, 111., sleignon to Republic Flow Meten Chicago, 111., ll. corporation of Illinois Application February 7, 1984, Serial No. 710,044

17 Cilims.

This' invention relates to indicators, and is illustrated es embodied in a multiple indicator tor showing simultaneously the pressures or drafts in oliflerent parts of a steam power pleat or the like, e. e. above and below the grate. in

the stock, etc. v

One object of the invention is to provide o compact instrument having o series of hontel scales ermrsgerl one above the other, by arrene- 1 lug operating units for the various inclicetoro 'elteroetely at ormoitc rioleo .oi the iosterlt coating. Title oer-mite the ecolee to be oi lees height then their corresponding ooerotineuxiito, thus greotlyreducirig the-totol height oi the io= The horizoritel orron zemeot oi the soolee reeuoeo errore of reeolmr time to perollox, end loo other odveoteaee.

in order to iooilitete the above arrangement, we preier to oonotroct the operetiog to so that they mov to cormecteo to their respective iodiootor arms on either side of the exit oi the pivot oi ea-oll om, that the operation oi err indicator arm Roy its is not eiiecterl by the erronoemeet oi the at one olcie or the other or the erie.

According to err @ortorit feature oi the in veritlom, the operating unite ere eelf-contoirieol eulo-eeeemblieo reedily detoohelole one regolooe able as such (for regnoir. etc.) without dioturle log the incllcotor arms and other oerto of the inetent, and which in themselves vericue ieetureo of novelty in coootructioo oriol orrooeemerit, or pointed out in the detailed oeo-orlptioo. We prefer to provide the lrietreot with e ree -operoole adjustment tor the zero position of eeoli indicator In time amusement shown, eecli oi the operating to it provided at the end lerthest from the indicator o with e w movable mounting such or o leei spring, on which is molmted'o, support T ix: n th e eretino' ports. At ito other eriri to orreoeed moons, such or; e not will comoreeoeo e eorio g more or less, for limiting the entire t ooooiot= v 635 mg of tile snort oi the ports meted QJEiEIfQ on to ooiuet the zero tion oi the ioo ioo arm without in my aflectine its operation by the obovo descrited unit.

One etructurol feature which is a-.=-.-::rlt 53 when the operating units include vertically or reused diepirrogms. as in the illustrated r meat, is the provision oi means for supporting the weight of the center portion oi the diaphragm (together with the 'weizht oi the usual 55 metal pla es between which the center portion of the diaphragm is embraced), without interfaring with its sensitivity of movement. Aoillustrated, this means comprises a reletively long vertical pivot pin supported at its code in vertically spaced bearings carried by the lever which operates the indicator erm. y this means the operating leversupports the weight of the dimphragm part-o, but does not in ens; we interere with its sensitivity oi operotiori.

The above and other olojeoto and features of the invention, incluolng voriogzo novel combine tiom of ports and oleslrolole perticuler construe-=- time, will be or'aporeot from the following olescription of the illurltrotive embodiment shown in the eccomying drawings, in which:

Figure l is at front elevotioll oi the instrument provided with three scales;

Figure 2 is o vertloel eeotion generally ot time center of the imtromeot provided with four oceleo, showing in iroet elevation the operating units mounted on the rear ieoe of tile iriotrw merit cow;

Figure t it o perspective of the instrument of Figure 1, broken error to short the interior;

Figure 4 is e perspective view of one of tile oirerotirlo unite, detached from the inotrer'it;

Fl 5 lo e. section through the molt; on the line 8- -5 of time o,- but wito the ooooort otted; t. Figure o is e oertiol section. on the line oi 2, showing the mounting o1? e of the teen the right side of the llii 7 more 7 is a. mrtiol rectiori, oo thelioe ll-=47 oi Figure t, showing the mounting oi one of the unito'on the leit aloe oi the ooeloo: Eilti Figure 8 is o oortiol Iteropeotive eitoevioe the onetime oi one oi the oooleo.

Ill ineent. the iom illiiotroteil. com

orieee a suitable cooler; it. ot the irorit oi which ore arranged e series oi xeo horiooritol ooolee it superimposed one ooove the other. lie ehorm lo 8, eocll ooole it is proierolely movable supported at its oolioot ito length or oel oorto l6 mounted on omeete it carried by the oeoiolz it. I

The zero and of oeeli Boole i2 is eretily fixed by means flllcifl as o inim mes,

through openinor, it and seourino'tiie rero end to one of the brackets 66. rounder oi the scale is movable in the olimiorts it, so t it will not buckle or coo in cseo oi {adue to chongw in. pcratore, oto.

As best shown in re 8, the aco lee are m olined slightly 2 the vertical. facing slight- J 'ly downward toward the eye of observer (tire instrument usually being mounted above the observer), with the top edge of each scale in front of, and very slightly above, the bottom edge of the next higher scale, thereby leaving a slot 5 fora pointer 20 carriedby the front end of a long and substantially horizontal indicator arm 22.

Each indicator arm 22 has a disk-shaped fulcrum part 24, having at one side a connecting pin 26, or having such 'pins at both sides, and having at its, center a vertical fulcrum pivot pin 28 mounted at its ends in vertically spaced bearings 30 carried by the arms of a U-shaped bracket 32 fastened to a member 34 centrally carried by the rear wall of the casing l0. Thus the member 34 carries all of the indicator arms as a separate sub-assembly, and may be made heavy enough to give them rigid support even if the casing is quite light. Each indicator arm 22 ex- 20 tends rearwardly of its pivot 28, and has adjustably threaded thereon one or more counterweights or balances 35.

The rear wall of the casing may have, if desired, a clip 36 for an electric lamp 38 arranged 25 to illuminate the scales l2, which are preferably of translucent material.

The above-described indicator arms are operated by a series of separate operating units which may be identical in construction, and in- 30 terchangeable, except for the strength of the springs, and in some cases for the size of the diaphragm. Where the pressures differtoo much to be compensated by changing the stiffness of the springs, the size of the diaphragm is selected 35 according to the negative or positive pressure to be measured, and according to the sensitivity desired. Three such units are shown in Figures 1 and 3, and four in Figure 2, while the details of construction are shown in Figures 4 to '7. These units are shown with diaphragms of two sizes, each taking care of a wide range of pressures according to the adjustment of its spring, as explained below. Owing to the possibility of arranging the units 5 described below alternately on the right and left sides of the common axis of the pivots 28, the scales I2 need only beabout half the height of the operating units, thus making for compactness of the entire instrument.

Each of these operating units is carried by a block 40, secured to the side wall of the casing l0 inthe corner of the casing, so that the easing prevents its turning, by means such asa nut 42 threaded on a part passing through the casing 55 wall, and which preferably forms a fitting also for theend of a connecting conduit 44 by which it may be connected up as shown in Figure 3 to a conduit 48 leading to the space in which the pressure is being measured. I I

Secured to the block 40 is a mounting device such as a leaf spring to which is secured a support such as .a heavy stamping 50. For reasons explained below, it is desirable to attach the support 50 to the spring support in either of two 5 positions, and to this end it maybe formed with three tapped holes 52 for two screws or other fastenings 54, the two positions being shown respectively in Figures 6- and '7. v

Each support 50 has mounted thereon, at the 70 end adjacent the block 40, a lever mounting shown as a second leaf; spring 56, shown held between two'clamp blocks 58 secured by fastenings I! to the support 50. A lever 62, shown as a formed stamping, is rigidly secured by welding 75 or in any other desired manner to the free end of the leaf spring 56. The end of each operating lever 82 is shown formed with a slot embracing one of the connecting pins 26.

It will be seen that the leaf spring 56, not

only serves as a return spring for the lever, but

also as a fulcrum upon which the lever pivots to operate the corresponding indicator arm 22 An intermediate part of the lever 62 has ears carrying vertically spaced bearings 66 (Figure 5) for a relatively long pivot pin 68 centrally attached to the head of a pin or other part projecting through an opening in the support 50 and attached to aluminum plates 12 embracing between them the central portion of a diaphragm 14. The diaphragm I4 is clamped at its edge between two stampings forming a diaphragm casing 18 mounted on the support 50 and with which the conduit 44 connects at the center. Since the top of the casing 16 in Figure 6 has an opening for the passage of. part "Ill, the top of the diaphragm H is subject to atmospheric pressure, the bottom being subject to the pressure in the conduit 46.

The weight of the diaphragm and its associated parts, including the plates i2, is carriedthrough pin I0 and pivot pin 58 by the lever 62 and spring 56. This prevents sagging of the diaphragm under the weight of plates 12 without interfering in any way with its freedom of movement or its sensitivity.

The end of the support 5!! opposite the support spring 48, i. e. the end adjacent the indicator arm 22, has an opening for a threaded stud 80 carried by member 34. On the end of the stud 80 is threaded an adjusting nut 82 engaging one side of the support 50, and compressing more or less a coil spring 84 sleeved on the stud and engaging the other side of the support 50.

It will be seen that the nut 82 may be manipulated to shift bodily more or less the support 50 and all the parts mounted on it, as a unit without affecting their relative positions and adjustments, thus rocking the indicator arm 22 when there is atmospheric pressure on both sides of the diaphragm M, to set the corresponding pointer 20 at zero or other predetermined position on the scale. This is therefore the zero adjustment of the instrument, and by placing it close to the connecting pin 28 with the indicator arm 22 the zero adjustment is practically unaffected by deflections of the wall of easing ill or by other inaccuracies of the mounting of the unit, etc. That is, the stud 80 may be placed close enough to the indicator arm so that the lever arm from the stud to the indicator arm is very short as compared to the lever arm between the stud and the block 0, so that inaccuracies in the position of the block do not substantially aifect the indicator arm.

The calibration of the instrument r 1 maximum scale position is made by changing the stifiness of each of the springs. 58, for example by loosening the fastenings 80, shifting the blocks I8 lengthwise, as permittedby the slots 6| through which the fasteuings pass, to vary the free'or effective length ofthe spring 56 and of course therefore also its stifl'ness," to give the desired reading at a known pressure. The fastenings 60 are then tightened to preserve the adJustment so made. Of course,'springs 56 may be selected in the first place as near as possible the desired stillness, to minimize the shifting of the blocks I 58 necessary in making the described calibration.

By shifting the fastenings 54 in the'openings 82 as shown in Figures Band 7, the slot in the end of lever 62 may be made to engage itspinfl either on the same side of the pivot 28 as the lever (Figure 6), or on the opposite side (Figure whether the zero of the corresponding scale I! is at its right or left end, and (3) whether the .pressure in the corresponding conduit 48 is above or below atmospheric pressure.

While one illustrative embodiment has been described in detail, it is not our intention to limit the scope of the invention to that particular embodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An indicator comprising a pivoted indicator arm, an elongated support adjacent said arm, a pressure operating device mounted on said support, an operating lever operatively connected at one end to the indicator arm and intermediately connected to the operating device and having at its other end a leaf spring secured to the support and serving both as a fulcrum or plvotfor the lever and as a return spring therefor, a second leaf spring supporting said support and the parts mounted thereon and arranged at the end of the support opposite the indicator arm, and an adjustable device holding the end of the support adjacent the indicator arm and. which is oper-' able to flex the second leaf spring more or less to shift the support together with all the parts mounted thereon, as a unit, to set the 'zero position of the indicator arm without sheeting its operation by the lever.

2. An indicator comprising a pivoted indicator arm, an elongated support movably mounted at the end opposite said arm, an operating device mounted on said support, an operating lever operatively connected at one end to the indicator arm and intermediately connected to the operating device and movably mounted on the support at its other end, and an adjustable device holding the end of the support adjacent the iii-- dicator arm opposite the movably mounted end and which is operable to shift the support together with all the parts mounted thereon, as a unit, to set the zero position 01 the indicator arm without afiecting its operation by the lever.

3. An indicatorcornprising a pivoted indicator arm, an elongated support movably mounted at the and opposite said arm, an operating device mounted on said support, an operating lever operatively connected at one end to the indicator arm andiintermediately connected to the operating device and movably mounted on the support at its other end, and an adjustable device holding the end of the support adjacent the indicator arm opposite the movably mounted and and which is operable to shift the support together with all the parts mounted thereon, as a unit, to set the zero position of the indicator arm-without aiiecting its operation by the, lever, said device including a threaded stem. passing through the support and having an adjustable nut threaded thereon and engaging one side of the support and having a spring sleeved thereon and yieldingly engaging the other side of the support.

4, An indicator comprising a pivoted indicator am, an elongated support movably mounted at the end opposite said arm, an operating device mounted on said support, an operating lever operatively' connected at one end to the indicator 5 arm and intermediately connected to the operating device and movably mounted on the support at its other end, and an adjustable device holding the end" of the support adjacent the indicator arm opposite the movably mounted end and which is operable to shift the support together with all the parts mounted thereon. as a unit, to

set the zero position of the indicator arm without aifecting its operation by the lever, said lever being mountable'in two alternative positions toconnect it operatively to the indicator arm at one side or the other of the axis of the pivot of the indicator arm.

5. An indicator comprising a pivoted indicator am, an elongated support adjacent said arm, an operating device mounted on said support, an operating lever operatively connected at one end tothe' indicator arm and intermediately connected to the operating device and having at its other end a leaf spring secured to the support and serving both as a fulcrum or pivot for the lever and as a return spring therefor, a second leaf spring supporting said support and the parts mounted thereon and arranged at the end of the support'opposite the indicator arm, and an adjustable device holding the end of the support adjacent the indicator arm and which is operable'to flex the second leaf spring more or less to 7 shift the support together with all the partsmounted thereon, as a unit, to set the zero position of the indicator arm without affecting its operation by the lever, said lever being mountable in two alternative positions-onthe second leaf spring to connect it operatively to the indicator arm at one side or the other of the axis of 7. An indicator unit comprising a block adapted to be mounted on an instrument casing, a leaf spring mounted on the block, a support mounted on the leaf spring, a pressure operating unit mounted on the support, a second leaf spring.

mounted on the'support, a lever mounted on the second leaf spring, a connection between the operating unit and the lever, and a conduit communicating at one end with the pressure operathis unit and mounted at its other end on said block,

8. An indicating unit intended to be mounted in a vertical plane and comprising a leaf spring secured atone end and having a lever secured at its other end and which lever has a relatively long vertical connecting pin pivotally mounted at its ends thereon, and a vertically mounted diaphragrnpressure unit having the center of its diaphragm connected to and supported center of said pin.

9. An indicating unit intended for vertical mounting and comprising a vertical diaphragm having center plates secured to its opposite sides lay a projecting pin, a vertical pivot pin of considerable length centrally connected to the pro .iecting pin, and an operating lever having verby the v 10. An indicating unit intendedfor vertical mounting and comprising a vertical diaphragm J'ecting pin, a vertical pivot pin of considerable having a weighted center provided with a prolength centrally connected to the projecting pin, and an operating lever having vertically-spaced bearings for the ends of the pivot pin and supporting the weight of the parts at the center of the diaphragm without interfering with the sensitivity of action of the diaphragm.

ll. In an indicator having an operating device and a lever operated thereby, a support comprising an elongated member mounted at one end for substantially pivotal movement and an adjustable device holding the other end of said member and operable to cause pivotal movement thereof, both the operating. device and lever being carried by said member to be moved therewith as a unit.

12. An indicator comprising an elongated support yieldingly mounted at one end for substantially pivotal movement, a device responsive to a condition to be indicated mounted on said support,an operating lever connected at one end.

to said support and operatively connected to said device to be moved thereby, a pointer operatively connected to said lever, and a device adjustably supporting the other end of said support and adapted to move said support together with all the parts mounted thereon, as a unit, to set said pointer without affecting its operation by the lever.

13. In an indicator, an operating lever mounted at one end and adapted to swing in a substantially horizontal plane, a connecting pin pivoted to said lever by a substantially vertical pivot, and a pressure responsive unit including a casing and a diaphragm secured thereto at its edge in a 'vertical plane, said pin connected to the center portion of the diaphragm to support the same and to be operated thereby.

14. A pressure indicator unit for multiple pressure indicators of the type having compactly arranged vertically superimposed horizontal scales and vertical pointer shafts pivotally mounted in coaxial relation comprising a pressure responsive element of greater width than one of said scales, a pivoted pointer actuated thereby and movable over one of said scales, the pointer shaft being pivoted ata point laterally of said pressure responsive element, whereby identical pressure responsive elements'may be vertically mounted in a pivoted pointer actuated thereby and movable over one of said scales, the pointer shaft being pivoted at a point laterally of said pressure responsive element, whereby identical pressure responsive elements may be verticallymounted in pairs in complemental relation alternately right and left of the pointer shafts, and two alterna- 1 tive connections between the pressure responsive element and the pointer shaft on opposite sides of the pointer shaft axis, whereby the element may swing the pointer in the same direction regardless of whether it is mounted to the right or to the left of the pointer shaft.

16. A draft gage or the like comprising a bracket, operating means and a lever actuated thereby and which means and lever are mounted on the bracket, indicating means mounted separately from the bracket and operatively connected to said lever, a resilient part supporting one end of the bracket, a coil spring having one end fixed and the other end engaging and yieldingly supporting the other end of the bracket, and a member passing axially through the coil spring and connected to said other end of the bracket and means including said members to shift the bracket against the resistance of the coil spring to correct the zero reading of the indicating means.

17. A draft gage or the like comprising a-bracket, operating means and a lever actuated thereby and which means and lever are mounted on the bracket, indicating means mounted separately from the bracket and operatively connected to said lever, a resilient part supporting ,one end of the bracket, a spring engaging and yieldingly supporting the other end of the bracket, and a member connected to said other end of the bracket and means including said member to shift the bracket against the resistance of the spring to correct the zero reading of the indicating means.

ALBERT F. SPITZGLASS. GEORGE W. GRISDALE. 

